New Ticking Sound, HELP!!

[spirello]

DOES IT GO AWAY AFTER 5-10 MILES OR SO? IT COULD BE THE LIFTERS. SOMETIMES OIL WILL ARIATE AND GET IN THERE AND IT CAN MAKE A TICKING NOISE. SOUNDS LIKE YOUR LOW ON OIL. I HAD THIS PROBLEM WAS USING A 20/50 FULL SYNTHETIC,WENT WITH A 10/40 SEMI SYNTHETIC. PROBLEM GONE.

spirello, that is one fine Nomad.

[dogdoc]

I have always heard a clicky clack ticking from the engine of my '05 cold or hot, its the frigging lifters tapping which is normal, I tune a deaf ear to it now.

[ells]

Was referring to the ICS when I said FI in my previous post. If it isn't the ICS, I don' think Flash has his answer. It is a loud ticking and wonder if Doc has the same thing but thinks its lifters.

[Todd]

I think a bunch of folks hear the solenoids and attribute the sound to the valve train...... I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first time today, but, never heard a peep from lifters in mine....unplug the solenoids and you will see.

Going to drag her to the shop in the AM, just to make sure. Got the ex-warranty until 09!!

[dragon57]

I hope it's not what I'm thinking; Mine starts making a ticking noise when the F@&king vance and hines rear headpipe starts cracking. It's happened twice so far.first time I just got it welded, but it cracked again about 3000 miles later. This time (I hope the LAST time), I had it welded, then a piece of exhaust pipe custom bent, and welded over the affected area (like a band-aid).
Like I said, I HOPE it isn't that, but your pic looks like V&H bagger duals.

[dogdoc]

going to unplug solenoids to do the test Todd.

[Todd]

going to unplug solenoids to do the test Todd.

Let us know what you think

Been riding the bike to work this week and have noticed a ticking noise from the engine at start ups and also when I gas on it. Almost sounds like something is vibrating. Got the UPS mechanic to look and he said it was coming from the engine, any clues to what it could be?? Got 7500 miles on her!!

Well the general possibilities have all been covered here:
valve lifters
cam chains
ICS
cracked pipe

Valve lifter will be noisier in really cold weather, particularly if you don't switch to thinner oil in the winter. I use 15w-50 in the summer, but 10w-40 in the winter. 15w-50 made it tick pretty bad on a cold start.

The cam chain adjusters seem to get sluggish in cold weather, allowing more cam chain slap. sometimes this is interperated as ticking. If you ride it long enough, they should warm up good and eventually kick in a notch. The chains will get quieter then.

If you unplug the ICS they will quit their ticking. Also the bike won't want to idle when cold. I never heard these much when the bike was stock. After doing the Caddmann Kit, I heard them a LOT. It was so annoying I removed them.

I've got almost 30,000 miles on my Baggers & they've never cracked, so I don't know what that sounds like. Now that I've said that they'll develop a crack next week and new pipes will be on backorder 'til September.

<geeze, the spelling! I gotta slow down when I type...::) >

[dogdoc]

I unplugged the ICS and yes it helps with a lot of the noise, BUT you can still hear common every day lifter noise(opening/closing) as i previously thought. Bike wouldnt hardly idle/start with ICS unplugged so plugged them back in. Wear ear plugs and you won't hear nothing but the sweet V&H exhaust note.

Mine starts in the coldest weather with the ICS off, BUT you gotta know how much to crack the throttle.

[Todd]

Yeah, I learned that lesson quickly...my bike usually started really quick with em plugged in...now I just crack the throttle a little and get it started and it runs fine from then on.

[VulcanE]

After I removed my ICS's, to get my Nad to start, I pull my choke all the way out and it starts fine (summer or winter). Then push it in and it idles like it has a huge cam in it for a minute or two, then it idles as it did with the ICS were on it. After the first start-up of the day, I don't need the choke. The engine has always sounded like a "bucket of bolts" rattling around, but if you sit on top of your car engine, you'll hear a lot of noises too.

[flightdoc]

Hey Flash,

What was the outcome from the shop you brought your bike to??

vin